Molecular and microscopic detection of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in Kurdestan Province, Iran

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Microbiology, School of Specialized Veterinary Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Proteomics and Biochemistry Department, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.

3 Department of Microbiology, School of Specialized Veterinary Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Department of Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by intra-erythrocyte protozoa, Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. The present study aimed to detect piroplasm infection in horses in Kurdestan Province, Iran, through molecular and microscopic approaches.n this study, 186 blood samples were randomly collected from horses of five regions of Kurdestan Province. The Tbs-S/Tbs-A primer set was used for amplification of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi DNA through polymerase chain reaction. Blood smears of each case were also examined by Giemsa staining method. During microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears, 3 out of 186 (1.61%) blood samples were positive for piroplasm infection. The product of only one blood sample yielded 426-430 bp-sized fragments on a 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis, and BLAST analysis of the sequenced sample indicated a 100% similarity with T. equi 18S rRNA gene sequences in GenBank. The results indicated that one out of 186 blood sample was positive (0.54%) for Theileria equi and none of them was positive for Babesia caballi.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [French]

Détection moléculaire et microscopique de Theileria equi et Babesia caballi chez les chevaux de la province du Kurdistan, Iran

Abstract [French]

La piroplasmose équine est une maladie transmise par les tiques et causée par les protozoaires intra-érythrocytaires Theileria equi et Babesia caballi. L’objectif de cette étude était de détecter les piroplasmoses affectant les chevaux de la province du Kurdistan iranien par une approche moléculaire et à l’aide d’analyses microscopiques. A cet effet, 180 échantillons sanguins ont été prélevés de façon aléatoire à partir de chevaux originaires de cinq régions de la province du Kurdistan. La série d’amorce Tbs-S/Tbs-A a été utilisée pour l’amplification en chaine par polymérase de l’ADN de T. equi et B. caballi. De plus, des frottis de chaque échantillon sanguin ont été analysés après coloration au Giemsa. Parmi les 186 frottis examinés au microscope, 3 étaient atteints d’une piroplasmose (1,61%). Les échantillons positifs ont été ensuite soumis à une analyse électrophorétique sur gel d’agarose (1,5%). Une recherche BLAST sur les séquences des fragments obtenus a révélé 100 % de similarité entre un fragment d’une taille de 426-430 bp issu de l’un des échantillons avec la séquence ARNr 18S de T. equi répertoriée dans GenBank. Ces résultats montrent que parmi les 186 échantillons sanguins analysés, un seul était positif au Theileria equi alors qu’aucune contamination au Babesia caballi n’a été détectée.

Keywords [French]

  • Theileria equi
  • Babesia cabali
  • PCR
  • Cheval
  • Iran
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